Valve controller for sterilizers



Dec. 2s. 192s. 1,612,752

I L. TALAS VALVE CONTROLLER FOR STERILIZERS original Filed August 14.1920' LVM!! unnnnn n Y r Suomi/hcw l Zaai/Talaw Patented Dee. 2.8, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUS TALAS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TOTHE Klil'Y-SCHEEEER CORPORA- TION GF AMERICA, A CRPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VALVE CONTRLLER FOR STERELXZERS.

Application filed August 14, 1920. Serial No. 403,62?.

This invention relates to the control of the passage of fluid to andfrom a number of chan'ibers. lt is particularly adapted to the controlof the process of sterilization in a steam sterilizer. in a sterilizerof the type in which the sterilizing chamber in a surrounding steamjacket is employed, live steam under pressure is constantly supplied tothe steam jacket. In l the functioning ot' such a sterilizer the air inthe articles to be sterilized and surrounding them in the sterilizingchamber must tirst be allowed to eXp-and into the atmosphere while noescape is permitted to the steam in the steam jacket. After the contentsof the sterilizer have been brought approximately to the steam chamber,it is then desired to eifect a vacuum in the sterilizing chamber. rl`hishas been found to be 2*' best facilitated by ejectingl the air from thesterilizer chamber through the medium of a. steam jet, supplied by steamfrom the steam jacket. After a vacuum is created in the sterilizingchamber, it is desired to close 25 the sterilizing chamber to theatmosphere and to lill the sterilizing chamber With live steam underpressure While at the same time steam pressure in the steam jacket ismaintained. rEhe present invention is applicable im to the above type ofsterilizing service.

Heretofore, either separately manually manipulating valves or a singledisk valve having suitable parts lhave been employed. Both have provenfar from the best practice. rlhe disadvantage of the disk valve lies`both in the difficulty of maintaining steam and vacuum tight valveaction and also in the liability of the valve to freeze againstmanipulation, after the apparat-us has been allowed to stand out ofservice for sometime. impurities carried by the steam have made suchvalves stick.

An object of the present invention is to combine with the valve stems ofa suitable number of poppet valves, a plurality of cams mounted on a camshaft and operated by a manipulating handle, all together, with anindicator so that various positions for the cam shaft into which it maybe moved 50 by the handle, and in which position it may be indicated bythe indicator, eifected through the medium of the poppet valves andsuitably interconnecting ducts make possible the various connections fordifferent chambers and the desired passage of Huid.

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Renewed November 17, 1925.

the valves and drawn to an enlarged scale;

and

li`ig 3 is an elevation partly in section and with parts broken awayshowing a lever operated cam shaft for controlling the valves.

A is a sterilizing chamber of the sterilizer B, which has the steamjacket C adapted to be supplied With steam under pressure from thesource D. The coupling nipple 1 which mounts the valve mechanism isprovided With a duct 2 directly connecting with the sterilizing chamberA and With a separate duct 3 connecting only with the steam jacket C.Pressure gauges 4 and 5 are respectively connected permanently withducts 2 and 3.

Three poppet-valves, E, F and G are employed in the present embodiment.Each of these valves comprises a back chamber 6 and a front chamber 7,normally separated by the valve S, seating upon valve seat 9, againstwhich it is forcibly spring pressed by compression springl 10 and fromWhich it may be opened by pressure against valve stem 11.

Poppet-valve F has a rearward extension 12 forming an aspirator orsteam-ejector, in this construction, a chamber 13, separated from valvechamber 10 by a partition 14 is provided. This chamber 13 gives entranceto the steam nozzle 15 which is surrounded by the aspirating nozzle 16.

rlhe live steam duct 3 leads to chamber 6 through duct 17 of valve E,Which chamber in turn is connected with chamber 6 of valve F by duet 18.

Chamber 7 of valve F is connected with asjjiirating chamber 18 by duct19. A duct 2O connects chamber 6 of valve G with chamber 21 of theaspirator nozzle 16, While IUU the duct 1 is connected with chamber 7 ofvalve Gr by duct 22.

The operation of the valves E, F and G may be coordinated and effectedmanually through means of a handle operatively associated with the camshaft 31 suitably mounted in trunnions 32 projecting from a base plate33 so that cams 34, 35 and 36 are in .cooperative relation with thevalve stems which are connected respectively for the various valves E, Fand G by numbers lle, llf and 11g in Fig'. 3.

The cam shaft 3l is suitably mounted as in trunnions on a plate 33carried by the ends ot the valves E, F and G, so that the sha'lt passesacross the ends of the valve stems 11e, llf, and 11g. Three cams, onefor each valve stein and respectively 34, 35 and 36 are carried by shatt3l. 'lhese cams are preferably so shaped and positioned as is shown inFig. 3, with the handle 30 horizontally, the heating ot the sterilizingchan'iber is effected and the expanding,l air is permitted to escape. Inthis position, only the valve G is opened.

Proper movement of .the lever 3() will cause the cams to open valves Eand F and cause valve G to be closed. rfhis operates the aspirator andproduces a vacuum in the sterilizing` chamber. When valves F and Gr areclosed and E open the entrance ot' live steam into the sterilizingchamber is effected.

l/Vhat is claimed and desired lto be se` cured by United States LettersPatent is:

1 In sterilizing` apparatus in combination, a sterilizin'g chamber; asteam jacket; three valves; ducts interconnecting said valves, saidsterilizing chamber and said steam jacket; a live steam connection Jforsaid steam jacket; and means for operating said valves into each ofthree combination positions, one for exhausting;` the sterilizing`chamber While maintaininglive steam in the jacket, one 'for n'iantaininglive steam in the jacket alone, and one for supplying live steam to bothsaidjziclet and said steriliziiigr chamber.

rhe structure as described in claim l and further characterized by thetact that an aspirator is associated with said ducts and valif'es tocooperate in exhausting` the sterilizingj chamber.

vln witness Whereot", I have signed my name to this speciiication this7th day ot August, 1920.

LOUS TALAS.

